Taking Charge

by Ruth Cardello

  And I’m not.

  Am I? She’d been raised to think such things were shameful, but she’d purchased a small vibrator for herself when she moved to the city. She’d looked at it as a private declaration that she was a modern woman—independent and self-sufficient, even in the bedroom.

  She’d used it, but that’s where her experience with toys ended. Lucy glanced at the still-cool water. How the heck am I going to market something I know nothing about? I should have chosen to sell candles or bath products. At least I know about those. What was I thinking?

  That I need money, that’s what.

  Sex is a natural part of life—like breathing. That’s how I should look at this. I’m a modern woman. Forget what my mother would have thought or what my neighbors might think. These are just devices to help a person breathe easier.

  They aren’t a replacement for men. Lucy closed her eyes and pictured David. There wasn’t an inch of him that didn’t feel as good as it looked. He had the muscular stature of a man who worked outdoors. His hands were strong but gentle. She shivered with pleasure at the idea of how they would feel on her bare skin.

  A knock on the door made Lucy jump and quickly turn. She hit the pan with the side of her hand and expected a burn but felt nothing. She glanced down at the burner and realized she hadn’t turned it on. See, this is a problem. David is a distraction I can’t afford.

  Lucy ran a hand through her hair and went to open the door. “Oh, hi, Wyatt.”

  Wyatt removed his hat and stepped through the door. “Thought you’d be happier to see me, considering the sale went through. The money was deposited to your account. Here is your receipt.”

  Lucy gave herself an inner smack and forced a smile. The sale was done. Relief flooded her. “Sorry, you know I’m glad to see you. It’s been a long day, that’s all.” Wyatt handed the receipt to Lucy. She glanced down at it, then back at him. “Thank you, Wyatt. Do you need a check tonight?”

  Wyatt shrugged. “I ain’t worried. Me and the family are moving into the back house tomorrow. My wife is looking forward to being back here. My grandbabies are a bit on the wild side, but if you have a problem with them, bring it to me and not my son and his wife. They don’t believe in disciplining children. Everyone has to feel good about everything all the time, or they think the world is ending. Life ain’t like that. I find that taking them on hunting trips and talking about what they’re doing wrong while I’m skinning something turns them right around.”

  Lucy’s eyes rounded, then she burst out laughing. “You’re pulling my leg.”

  Wyatt flashed a quick smile. “Yes, ma’am. It’s good to see you laughing, Miss Lucy. The kids are better behaved than I ever was, better than even you and your brother were, but they’re missing their old life. My son and his wife were in Dallas until he lost his job. They moved in with us in our rental in town, but no one was happy there. The kids play video games and hide in their rooms all day. I’m hoping it’ll be different for them here.”

  “How old are they?”

  “Brianna is eleven. Cooper is nine. I’d love to see them get into riding. I tried to take them out once, but they don’t know teeth from tail on a horse. I get that my son doesn’t want this lifestyle. He’s working with some big headhunter, and as soon as they land him a job, he says they’re gone again. They like to live large, and that’s why they had no savings when he lost his job. But you can’t tell him that, can’t tell his wife that, neither. There is a whole lot of living that could be done while waiting for that perfect job, but I didn’t have a place where I could really show them what that means. I appreciate you letting us come back.”

  Tears of gratitude filled Lucy’s eyes. “Don’t you dare make me cry, Wyatt. I’m already a mess.”

  “You’ll be fine soon enough. Things are already turning around. Was that David’s truck I saw in the drive?”

  Lucy wagged a finger at him, although it was impossible to be irritated with him. “You know good and well it is. He said you hired him.”

  Wyatt took his time answering. “I’m not as young as I used to be, Lucy. There’s trouble brewing, and I want to do right by you, but I have my family to think of, too. My son’s a good businessman, but he couldn’t fight his way out of a brawl with kittens. This town needs a David. York doesn’t scare him, and seeing that reminds the men around him that we all had a life before York took over his daddy’s place and did his best to make sure he was the only game in town. He’s slowly buying out all the ranches in the area.”

  Lucy glanced at the door, then back at Wyatt. “You think having David here will change that?”

  Wyatt replaced his hat. “Hope is a powerful thing. When you ain’t got it, you got no fight in you. Everything changes as soon as you believe it can. Do you believe you can keep this ranch?”

  Lucy clasped her hands in front of her. “I’m going to try my damnedest to.”

  “That wasn’t answering my question, and if you can’t say yes, I don’t know what we’re all doing here. Good night, Miss Lucy.”

  Ouch. It was impossible to be upset with Wyatt for speaking so bluntly because Lucy knew his concern was genuine. “Good night, Wyatt.”

  No longer hungry, Lucy left the kitchen and went to her father’s office. She unlocked it, flipped on the light, and then stood over the large box she hadn’t yet had the nerve to open. If I don’t believe I can do this, then I don’t know what I’m doing here, either.

  She knelt, opened the box, and took out the largest package inside. It wasn’t labeled. Opening it, she unwrapped a rose-colored velvet base a woman was apparently supposed to straddle. Included in the box were several screw-on dildos in an assortment of colors, shapes, and sizes. The front of the base had enough buttons on it to make Lucy laugh out loud. A woman could kill herself on that thing trying to program it. Stop laughing. This is a career, not a joke. No wonder the site didn’t have a clear photo of the product; there’s not much that’s sexy about it. Lucy frowned, but with determination, reached for the directions. I can do this. She read the highlights listed in the description. “Remote control included. Bluetooth ready.” Bluetooth? “Downloadable apps to increase your pleasure and your fantasy. Write your own interactive story or use one of ours.”

  Lucy sat back on her heels and threw the directions along with the base back into the box. I need to start simpler. She leaned back into the box and pulled out a smaller parcel. She opened it and took out what at first looked like a tangle of wires and Velcro. There was a remote control attached to a larger band of Velcro. Lucy figured the large band would fit on a wrist, so that was where she put it. She untangled the wires and saw attachments for three fingers. Which three? She glimpsed another control device in the box. It was the size and shape of a phone with a label that read “Waterproof.” Because it’s not intimidating enough as is, why not add the chance of getting electrocuted in the bath? She reached for the directions, then tried and failed to figure them out. Either the first device recorded what the phone-sized device told it to or it was the other way around. Once again, there were apps to download and directions that weren’t written for regular people to understand. Lucy threw the toy back into its container in frustration.

  Whatever happened to a good, old-fashioned vibrator?

  She shoved the box away from her.

  I wanted to sell something with a high profit margin. These are supposed to be the wave of the future.

  Lucy sighed and stood.

  I’m screwed.

  Hopefully all of this will make sense to me tomorrow. She closed and locked the door behind her. I know you’re right, Wyatt. If I don’t believe I can do this, we’re all wasting our time here.

  Lucy slipped off her boots and placed them in the hall before heading up to her bedroom. She stripped to her underwear, slid a light nightgown over her head, then tucked herself into bed.

  Mom. Dad. I know I’ve spent enough nights asking you to watch over me, but I need you to look away for a little bit while I
sort this out.

  And, Dad, do yourself a favor and stay out of your office. There’s nothing there you need to see.

  Lucy turned onto her side and fluffed her pillow with a punch. Had Wyatt gone over to talk to David after leaving her place? Probably. He’d make sure David had everything he needed.

  Lucy’s eyes began to close, and just before she fell asleep, she admitted to herself that she felt safer knowing David was in the bunkhouse. She didn’t agree with much he’d done that day, and she wasn’t proud of the ungracious way she’d responded to his help, but still, it was nice knowing someone was watching over her. She hugged her pillow closer and fell into the first peaceful sleep she’d had in a long time.

  David was outside and ready for a day’s work at the crack of dawn. His stomach was rumbling, though. He considered going to town for supplies, but he wasn’t leaving until Wyatt came back with his family later that day. He’d worry less about Lucy once there were people around to keep an eye on her.

  Until then, I’ll settle for a cup of coffee.

  He knocked on the kitchen door of the main house, but there was no answer. He was about to turn away but impulsively tried the door. It was unlocked.

  Not safe. I’ll have to talk to her about that.

  He opened her kitchen door. Lucy would hide from him if he let her, and this time he wasn’t giving her a chance to find someone else. She wanted to deny the attraction between them. If his intention was to bed her and leave, he would have respected that, but seeing her again had confirmed his initial gut reaction upon meeting her: She belongs with me.

  She felt the same. He’d seen as much in her eyes the night before.

  She’ll come round.

  David called out to Lucy. She didn’t answer, and he was turning to leave when an idea came to him. Could have been the way his stomach was protesting the length of time since his last meal, but making Lucy breakfast suddenly seemed like a good idea.

  He started coffee and hunted through her fridge for eggs, bacon, and toast. He was no stranger to cooking for himself and prided himself on being better than most. His parents had made cooking a family event when he was young, and even though he didn’t talk to them nearly enough now, cooking was a way of remembering happier times.

  He was sliding a second omelet onto a plate when he heard the familiar sound of a shotgun being cocked. He shut the stove off, set the plate down on the counter beside him, and turned. Lucy was pointing a shotgun in his general direction and shaking.

  “You scared me,” she accused. “I thought someone had broken in.”

  “Do criminals in these parts feed you before they rob you?”

  Lucy uncocked the shotgun and lowered it. “I thought you might be—”

  It was then that David felt like an ass for not realizing she might be afraid of her ex-fiancé. “Ted.”

  Lucy shrugged a shoulder. “I wasn’t sure if he’d give being nice one more try.”

  A thought occurred to David that he didn’t like one bit, but he couldn’t stop himself from asking. “Did he make you breakfast often?”

  Lucy held his eyes for a long moment. She knew exactly what he was asking. He should say it was none of his business, but he didn’t. He didn’t want to picture her with Ted that way. Which wasn’t fair since she’d been engaged to him. Of course they’d—

  “Never,” she said, then wrapped her arms protectively around herself.

  His relief was short-lived. Her stance opened the front of her nightgown enough to give him a glorious glimpse of cleavage so that he almost forgot he’d asked a question. He shook his head as her answer sunk in. “Never?”

  Lucy dropped her arms. “Not even close. That, by itself, should have been a warning sign that he had other reasons for wanting to marry me. I saw only what I wanted to see, I guess.”

  David stepped toward her. “Lucy . . .”

  “Please. I don’t want to talk about it.” She waved a hand through the air, then looked at the table he’d set and the fresh pot of coffee. “What happened to you staying outside?”

  David flashed a smile at her. He was having the damnedest time trying not to focus on how the sunlight was making her nightgown near transparent. “A man could starve out there, but I made enough for two.” He placed the plates on the table and held out a chair for her.

  Lucy sat in the chair and frowned up at him. “You can’t just come in and out of my house.”

  He poured them both a cup of coffee and took his place across from her. “Door was open. Try the eggs, Lucy.”

  She blinked a few times quickly, then slowly did as he instructed. The moan she made was just about the sexiest thing he’d ever heard. “These are good. What did you put in them?”

  “Family secret. If I tell you, I either have to marry you or kill you.” Lucy went white, and David cursed his idiot mouth. “It’s a joke, Lucy. Well, partly. My grandma used to say that to her dates after my grandpa died.”

  That seemed to calm Lucy. She took a sip of coffee. “How old was she?”

  “A young eighty-two, and believe me, she never had a shortage of suitors. She had a smile that lit up a room. When you have that, it doesn’t matter how old you are, you’re beautiful.” He sighed.

  “It sounds like you were close.”

  “We were. I miss her every day.”

  Lucy rested her chin on her hand. “My grandparents died while I was too young to remember them, but I used to imagine what they’d be like. I shouldn’t miss what I never had, but I do sometimes. I miss the idea of having someone in my life like that. Does that make sense?”

  There she was, the woman David could imagine spending the rest of his life loving. Although she didn’t see it yet, she was restlessly yearning for more—just as he was. They could be that more for each other. “It does. Do you have any family besides your brother?”

  “Both of my parents were only children. If I have family somewhere, I don’t know them. How about you?”

  David wasn’t used to talking about his family, but he wanted Lucy to know him. “My parents retired in north Texas by Amarillo. My father was a doctor. My mother was a teacher. They both wanted me to go to college and take over my father’s practice. When they pushed hard, I left and joined the Marines. Funny how important leaving feels when you’re young.”

  Lucy nodded in understanding. “I went to college in Rhode Island and never pictured myself coming back, but here I am.” She took a bite of bacon, chewed, and then asked, “Are you close to your parents?”

  “Not as much now as I was before I left. I’d like to say they got over the initial disappointment, but no matter what else I achieve, it wasn’t what they wanted for me.”

  Lucy nodded again. “Wouldn’t it be nice if life came with a road map? Then we wouldn’t have to waste so much time being confused.”

  David reached out and took one of her hands in his. “I’m not confused.” Their eyes met and held for a long sexually charged moment. He hadn’t imagined the yearning in her face the night before, because it was back, but she was fighting it.

  She snatched her hand away and moved both hands to her lap. “I don’t want either of us to get confused by what you’re doing on this ranch. So we should set some ground rules.”

  David sat back in his chair and kept his expression blank. She looked so serious; it was adorable. “Shoot.”

  She laid one hand flat on the table beside her plate. “First, you need to stop looking at me like I’m an item on a menu, and you’re hungry.”

  It took all the control David had not to smile at that. “I will if you promise to do the same.”

  “I do not—” She stopped, took a deep breath, and narrowed her eyes. “I was emotional yesterday. If my expression of gratitude seemed like more than that, I’m sorry.” She played with the fork beside her plate. “I realize this is an awkward conversation, but it needs to be said.”

  David nodded. She wasn’t asking him to leave, so it was progress.

  “There
is nothing personal going on between us. You’re leasing my barn and outside grounds. This is a business deal. I’ll have papers drawn up today with an agreement on how I will pay off the balance. I’m heading to the bank today. I should be able to give you more than half of what I owe you.”

  “Lucy, I told you, there’s no rush.”

  “It’s important to me, so yes, there is. Second, don’t come in the house unannounced. I can understand today, but it can’t happen again. And at no time, no matter what you may need, do you ever go into my father’s office. If you can’t agree to that, then this won’t work.”

  David arched one of his eyebrows but nodded again. What is she hiding? Instead of asking her a question he knew she wouldn’t answer, he asked, “Isn’t it your office now?”

  She frowned as if that idea hadn’t occurred to her. “I guess it is. It’s hard to think of them as being gone forever, but they are.” She pressed her lips together and looked down at her plate as if gathering her resolve. “Once you settle in, there won’t be much reason for us to interact. The new business I’m starting will keep me busy, as I’m sure your horses will keep you busy once they arrive. I appreciate that you made me breakfast, but we shouldn’t do this again.” She looked up at him and then her eyes narrowed again. “What are you smiling at?”

  David considered not sharing what he was thinking, but he was curious to see her reaction. “I’m imagining how we’ll laugh about this conversation when you’re waking up in my arms every morning.”

  Lucy stood, nearly knocking her chair over as she did. “That’s not funny.”

  David stood and leaned forward over the table, giving her what he hoped was his sexiest smile. “I’m not joking.”

  Lucy stepped back. “It’s time for you to leave.”

  David straightened. He remembered something an old-time trainer had told him when he’d first started working with horses. He’d said, “Son, there are two ways to get a fearful horse across a bridge. One way is to use a whip. It gets you across the bridge faster, but you end up with a horse who hates whips and bridges. Or you can take that horse to the bridge every day and invite it forward a little bit more each time, letting it decide when it’s ready to cross. When it finally does, you’ll have yourself a horse who’ll cross anything for you because you worked through it together.”